From Tom Jones | Poynter <[email protected]>
Subject A Poynter Report special: the 2025 year in media
Date December 19, 2025 12:30 PM
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** OPINION
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** A Poynter Report special: the 2025 year in media
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President Donald Trump speaks to the media in October. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Good morning and welcome to a special edition of The Poynter Report

Today, we look back at the year in media — the good, the bad and the ugly. And there sure was a lot of ugly, with President Donald Trump launching an all-out assault on the press. But there were some signs of hope and support as well, including from a new pope.

Before we move on, a quick note: This will be the final Poynter Report of 2025. We will return on Jan. 5 of next year to give you, as always, the latest in media news and analysis each and every weekday. Thanks for reading this year, and I look forward to talking to you again in 2026.

Now, for the last time in 2025, we look back at the past year, starting with our …


** Media personality of the year
------------------------------------------------------------

Like every year at this time, the list of possible candidates for media personality of the year is a long one. We considered several names, many of which will appear in other categories later in this newsletter.

But one name kept coming up again and again: Bari Weiss, the new editor-in-chief at CBS News.

Then again, we kept asking, has she really made an impact yet? After all, she just started in October. Since then, she has hired a new anchor for the “CBS Evening News” and, on Thursday, announced something called “Things That Matter,” which will feature town halls and debates.

While those might turn out to be really impactful moves, her direct influence up until now seems minimal, perhaps too minimal to be the media personality of the year.

Then we realized that wasn’t the way to judge this.

Everyone — from media observers to the White House to news executives to audiences — is watching every move Weiss makes, looking for any subtle sign as to what will happen next.

The left is making her out to be a bogeyman, hellbent on bringing partisan politics to a supposedly neutral news organization. They see her as unqualified, inexperienced and susceptible to being influenced by her own political biases and those of CBS’s new conservative owners. The right sees her as a savior, someone who will finally put the liberally biased news media in its place.

But whichever camp you’re in, you have to admit that Weiss’ story is a remarkable one in journalism. She went from a New York Times opinion columnist who quit out of anger to someone who started her own media outlet, The Free Press. That project made enough of an impact that Weiss landed the top job at CBS News — despite never having worked in television — and sold The Free Press to CBS for a reported $150 million. Now, The Free Press and CBS News are expected to become partners.

In the end, her position makes her among the most influential people in journalism, and it’s clear she has an agenda that is sure to last for years to come at one of America’s biggest journalism institutions.

For all of these reasons, Bari Weiss is our 2025 Media Personality of the Year.


** Media story of the year
------------------------------------------------------------

President Donald Trump’s attacks on the media have been relentless and unprecedented. He and his administration have defunded NPR and PBS; banned The Associated Press from certain events because it refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America; dismantled the Voice of America; sued media companies; insulted journalists with degrading names; criticized late-night hosts; kicked reporters out of the Pentagon; and labelled everything they didn’t like about coverage as “fake news.”

A year ago, in my Media Year in Review story ([link removed]) , I asked the question: “Will Donald Trump go after the press, seeking to force them to comply with his presidency or face harsh consequences?”

The answer we now know is yes. A resounding yes. Turns out, it has been way worse than our greatest fears. Poynter is now tracking just how bad it has been with our Press Freedom Watch ([link removed]) .

We’re just one year into Trump’s second term, with three more to go, and there’s no indication that Trump will ease up on going after the press. These are dark days for the press and our country.


** A divine supporter
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Pope Leo XIV waves to an audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, earlier this week. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

In September, Chicago native Robert Francis Prevost became the first-ever American pope. Now Pope Leo XIV, he has become an advocate for press freedoms around the world, speaking out about it on several occasions.

In his most powerful message ([link removed]) , less than a month after becoming pope, Leo said, “Doing the work of a journalist can never be considered a crime, but it is a right that must be protected.”

Aside from standing up for those covering wars across the world, Leo seemed to send a message to his native country when he said, “With your patient and rigorous work, you can act as a barrier against those who, through the ancient art of lying, seek to create divisions in order to rule by dividing. You can also be a xxxxxx of civility against the quicksand of approximation and post-truth.”


** Newest (recognizable) face
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In June, veteran journalist Tom Llamas became anchor and managing editor of the “NBC Nightly News,” taking over for venerable Lester Holt. Llamas became just the fourth anchor of the “Nightly News” in the past 40 years, joining a list that includes legends such as Holt, Brian Williams and Tom Brokaw. While Llamas looks comfortable in the big chair, he also has gotten out of that chair — often taking his anchoring duties on the road to places such as Israel, Texas, Chicago, Miami, Washington, D.C., and Alaska. And there are at least some signs that NBC could close the gap on what has been ABC’s stranglehold on the evening news. Which leads me to …


** Most steady
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NBC brought in a new anchor. CBS continues to search for the right formula (and anchor) to lift itself out of the distant-third-place doldrums. Meanwhile, ABC’s “World News Tonight” and anchor David Muir continue to set the pace for the evening news broadcasts. “World News Tonight” has occasionally topped 8 million in viewership, making it not only the most-watched newscast on TV, but also among the most-watched nonfootball programs on television. Muir has become this generation’s Walter Cronkite — the most trusted and recognizable anchor on network news.


** Biggest name change
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In 1996, a new cable network hit the airwaves. It was called MSNBC and, at first, the name felt clunky. But it soon became a part of the cable news vernacular. After 29 years, the network underwent a name change this year, going from MSNBC to MS NOW, which stands for My Source News Opinion World. And it’s more than just a name change, as the network has severed ties with NBC. But it still is the go-to network for left-leaning audiences.


** Face of the network
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MS NOW’s Jen Psaki interviewing Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker earlier this year. (Courtesy: MSNBC/MS NOW)

Speaking of MS NOW, the network is full of big personalities with strong opinions: Lawrence O’Donnell, Chris Hayes and the “Morning Joe” power couple of Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. The network’s biggest name, however, has traditionally been Rachel Maddow. And while Maddow still appears once a week and typically leads the network on big news nights such as elections and debates, a new face has emerged as MS NOW’s leader. That would be Jen Psaki, who has smoothly transitioned from Joe Biden’s press secretary to one of cable news’ biggest stars. Here’s my interview with Psaki from “The Poynter Report Podcast” ([link removed]) earlier this year.


** Most shocking cancellation
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Few people on television are as brilliantly funny and pleasant as CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert. That’s why it was so stunning when CBS announced in July that it would be cancelling the late-night show next May. The timing of the announcement was, well, curious. It came just days after Colbert blasted CBS’s owners for settling a lawsuit with President Donald Trump. Nevertheless, CBS insists it is canceling Colbert’s show because of financial reasons. Either way, late-night television will be less entertaining without Colbert.


** Biggest suspension
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On the topic of late night, ABC owner Disney suspended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after he made a comment about Charlie Kirk during a monologue. In addition, two local TV affiliate owners (Nexstar and Sinclair) refused to air Kimmel’s program. It all seemed sparked by threatening comments made by FCC Chair Brendan Carr.

The suspension lasted less than a week, but it sent a chilling message that the government could intimidate media companies into stripping the freedom of speech — even when it comes in the form of a late-night, talk-show monologue.


** Most tragic story
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Right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk was a controversial and polarizing figure in politics, and the reaction to his shooting death in September highlighted the divide in his country. There is nothing more tragic than a wife losing a husband and children losing their father. But it was also a tragic day for our country. Regardless of your politics, the murder of Kirk should never have happened in a nation where freedom of speech is supposed to be one of its core principles. At a time when you think our country can't get more divided, the senseless murder of Kirk showed just how troubling our politics have become, and it, regretfully, has changed the U.S. permanently.


** Most ridiculous squabble
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So petty is Donald Trump that he actually kicked The Associated Press — one of the most respected, widely-consumed and neutral press organizations in the world — out of certain press events because it refused to call the Gulf of Mexico what he wants it called: the Gulf of America. The AP is about accuracy and clarity. The body of water between Florida and Mexico has been called the Gulf of Mexico for more than 400 years. The rest of the world recognizes it as the Gulf of Mexico. But because Trump’s ego wanted the name change, he threw a fit when the AP didn’t go along with him. In the process, he denied certain access to a news outlet that provides news to people around the world.


** Journalism scandal of the year
------------------------------------------------------------
Journalist Olivia Nuzzi, shown here in 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Nothing has been juicier than the scandal involving Olivia Nuzzi, the once wunderkind political journalist who has now lost not one, but two high-profile jobs because of alleged inappropriate relationships with people she covered, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This story also includes a cliffhanging series of Substack posts written by her ex-fiance (another political journalist, Ryan Lizza), a highly publicized (although poorly reviewed) memoir from Nuzzi herself and very R-rated descriptions of, well, R-rated stuff. This story has had it all, and it has sparked serious discussions about journalism ethics and the pitfalls of the growing trend of journalists building themselves into brands. And, you get the feeling that more is coming. The big question now is: Who will play in the movie?


** Best news influencer
------------------------------------------------------------

Pablo Torre’s background as a superb reporter and writer served him well in successful stints at Sports Illustrated and ESPN. But he has branched out on his own with a one-of-a-kind podcast, “Pablo Torre Finds Out.” Torre and his team have dug deep on topics such as right-wing influencer Riley Gaines, the unusual relationship between football coaching legend Bill Belichick and his much-younger girlfriend, what in the world has happened to golfer Phil Mickelson and much, much more. Not only are the stories well-reported, but they are entertainingly told, showing off Torre’s skills as an excellent storyteller. It’s so cool to see someone as talented as Torre try something totally different and new and hit it out of the park.


** Best podcast
------------------------------------------------------------

Amy Poehler, shown here in June. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Many of us have our go-to podcasts to get the latest world news and analysis. But, good gosh, listening to current events these days can be so depressing. Sometimes you just need an escape, something fun and light. “Saturday Night Live” alumna Amy Poehler has delivered the perfect listen to those who are just looking to laugh and relax. It’s remarkable just how good Poehler is at this. Her “Good Hang” pod features delightful conversations with many A-list celebrities, and few things can brighten your day like listening to Poehler and her guests laughing hysterically ([link removed]) .


** MVP of the year
------------------------------------------------------------

We’re going with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. Aside from hosting her own program on CNN, she also continues to be the network’s chief White House correspondent. Where does she find the time and energy? She’s always well-prepared and can handle anything she’s asked to do — from peppering Trump and press secretary Karoline Leavitt with questions to being quick on her feet when pushing back on guests on her show who are determined to pivot and deflect. Her rise at CNN feels meteoric (she’s still only 33 years old), but it’s well deserved.


** Best comeback
------------------------------------------------------------

It felt for a while there like the Sunday morning news programs — ABC’s “This Week,” NBC’s “Meet the Press” and CBS’s “Face the Nation” — had fallen into a rut. But the shows have made a comeback of sorts in recent months thanks to strong work by moderators George Stephanopoulos, Martha Raddatz and Jonathan Karl at ABC, Kristen Welker at NBC and Margaret Brennan at CBS. The moderators aren’t afraid to push back, hold guests accountable, and yet still be respectful. The result is productive conversations that often generate real news.


** Magazine of the year
------------------------------------------------------------

The Atlantic would be our pick even if it weren’t for the crazy Signalgate scandal this year, when Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally included in a text chain where senior Trump administration officials discussed potential war plans for Yemen. Goldberg printed this wild story while responsibly handing the information he was given. His stories were mesmerizing and revealing, as are many of the stories you’ll find on a daily basis in America’s best magazine.


** Most underrated
------------------------------------------------------------

The Washington Post has taken a lot of heat, deservedly so, for major changes to its editorial section. Earlier this year, owner Jeff Bezos wrote, “We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets. We’ll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.”

The mandate led many respected Post journalists to flee the paper, including respected opinion editor David Shipley. These days, the Post’s editorial section, quite honestly, seems to have lost its teeth, rarely writing anything strong enough to make a true impact.

But its news department continues to churn out strong reporting on international and, in particular, national topics with near-daily exclusives.

The Post’s editorial section might no longer be worth paying attention to, but the newsroom is still a must-read.


** Best nonpolitical political show
------------------------------------------------------------

ABC’s “The View” wasn’t supposed to be a political show, per se. Barbara Walters launched it back in 1997 as a talk show by women for women. It was supposed to be a roundtable of women talking about the topics of the day, kind of like a bunch of friends gathering for lunch. But it has turned into a newsworthy show, often because of high-profile guests. Some of the biggest names in politics, including presidents and presidential candidates, join the show for conversations that sometimes get testy. And the conversations constantly make news.


** Best heel
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If politics were like professional wrestling, this year’s undisputed bad guy champ would be CNN’s Scott Jennings. Appearing regularly on “CNN NewsNight,” Jennings gives the conservative/Republican point of view on a roundtable that usually leans left. With a smirk on his face, Jennings rarely concedes an argument — making it hard to tell if he truly believes what he is saying or if it’s all an act. No one gets under the skin of viewers and opposing panelists quite like Jennings. Having said that …


** Most annoying show
------------------------------------------------------------

I actually don’t find “CNN NewsNight” to be a productive show. In theory, it sounds like a good idea: a roundtable discussion of the hot political topics of the day with all viewpoints represented. But instead of finding common ground, the show often devolves into unproductive conversations that end up causing more divisiveness than compromise. The show airs at 10 p.m. Eastern, not exactly the kind of programming that helps get you relaxed for bed. The most discouraging thing is that the show is hosted by the very capable Abby Phillip, who is really good on TV and will, hopefully, find another program someday to show off her excellent skills. But, for now, CNN seems pleased with what they have in “NewsNight.”


** Biggest voice
------------------------------------------------------------

Is there a more notable voice in politics these days than Sean Hannity? He has become the face of Fox News, with his prime-time show often drawing 3 million viewers. On top of that, he hosts a daily three-hour, nationally syndicated radio show. That means he is on TV or radio for four hours a day, with his messages influencing conservative citizens around the country, as well as the man who lives in the White House.


** Most influential family
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The Ellisons — father Larry and son David. Major movers and shakers in the media world, they purchased Paramount, which includes CBS. Then CEO David Ellison, in a completely-out-of-leftfield move, put Bari Weiss in charge of CBS News. Now the Ellisons are making a hostile run at Warner Bros. Discovery, which includes CNN. They might not be able to pull it over, but if they do, expect major changes — much to the delight of Trump.


** Next-most influential family
------------------------------------------------------------

The Murdochs, of course. Owners of Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and New York Post, the Murdochs and their right-leaning politics have a major impact on the political landscape in the U.S.

Following a “Succession”-like battle, Rupert Murdoch’s son, Lachlan, is now in a position to control the company for years to come, meaning the Murdoch conservative agenda will continue to run strong.


** Best students
------------------------------------------------------------

Kudos to the courageous student journalists at Indiana University’s The Daily Student newspaper. After the school’s director of student media, who also served as the paper’s adviser, was fired, and university leadership told the paper not to print any news in its print edition of the newspaper, the student journalists fought back.

​​The university claimed it was not about censorship, but about concentrating on the digital product. It eventually killed the print product altogether.

Led by co-editor-in-chiefs Mia Hilkowitz and Andrew Miller, the IDS pushed back the best way it knew how: by writing about the controversy. The paper garnered support from proud IU alumni, including those from the respected journalism program and big contributor Mark Cuban. It became a major embarrassment for the school’s journalism department.

Eventually, the university caved, and the paper is once again publishing special print editions. In the end, the journalists at the IDS did what good journalists do: they shone a light on something wrong and got it righted.


** Most surprising/disappointing firing
------------------------------------------------------------
Former Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah. (The Poynter Report Podcast)

The Washington Post fired respected opinion columnist Karen Attiah for her social media reaction to the death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Attiah said at the time that she was fired for “​​speaking out against political violence, racial double standards, and America’s apathy toward guns.”

When she joined me as a guest on “The Poynter Report Podcast,” ([link removed]) Attiah called her firing a “betrayal.”


** Freakout of the year
------------------------------------------------------------

Conservatives losing their minds after the National Football League chose humongous global star Bad Bunny to perform at this season’s Super Bowl. When conservative commentator Tomi Lahren interviewed political analyst Krystal Ball ([link removed]) , she asked about the NFL’s choice.

Ball said the choice seemed fine, that she didn’t understand why there were those upset and that “he seems like a great American artist.”

Lahren said, “He’s not an American artist.”

Then Ball dropped the hammer on Lahren by saying, “He’s Puerto Rican. That’s part of America, dear.”


** Most dangerous media job
------------------------------------------------------------

Journalism, especially in certain parts of the world, is a dangerous profession. Last week, Reporters Without Borders reported that 53 of the 67 media professionals killed over the past year are victims of war or criminal networks.

The most dangerous place to be a journalist in 2025? Those covering the war in Gaza. Reporters Without Borders claimed nearly half (43%) of the journalists slain in the past 12 months were killed in Gaza by Israeli armed forces. In August, five journalists were among the 20 killed when two Israeli strikes hit a hospital in Gaza. The journalists worked for media outlets including The Associated Press, Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The Committee to Protect Journalists reports ([link removed]) that 249 journalists have been killed and another 170 have been injured covering the war there. Figures include war-related killings of journalists and media workers in Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, Iran and Israel.


** Worst settlement
------------------------------------------------------------

Rather than fight a lawsuit it likely would’ve won, CBS and its corporate owner, Paramount, decided to settle a lawsuit brought by Donald Trump. The president claimed CBS News edited an interview with Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris in such a way as to help her beat Trump in the 2024 election. Trump won the election anyway and then spooked CBS into paying him $16 million, further bolstering Trump to go after media companies — including a new lawsuit against the BBC.


** Best and worst of AI
------------------------------------------------------------

Artificial intelligence continues to make more of a difference in everything we do, including journalism. But there’s still much work to be done, as proven by one of the most embarrassing uses of AI this year.

The Chicago Sun-Times, for its summer reading guide, contained made-up book titles written by ChatGPT ([link removed]) . As my Poynter colleague Alex ​​Mahadevan writes in an upcoming year-end piece about AI: “Remember folks, freelancers should sign on to your AI ethics policies.”

However, it’s not all bad. Mahadevan also praises some use of AI, giving a cheer to “The Minnesota Star-Tribune, for its smart use of AI to decode and report the videos and journal pages published by the Annunciation Church shooter ([link removed]) . I use this example in every AI training, because it shows that the technology — used thoughtfully and with human oversight — can allow journalists to do quick and important investigative work.”


** Media tweet of the year
------------------------------------------------------------

For consequence, this has to be longtime ABC News journalist Terry Moran for calling President Donald Trump and Trump adviser Stephen Miller “world-class haters” in a since-deleted tweet. About Miller, Moran wrote, “Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred. He’s a world-class hater. You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate.”

ABC News suspended Moran and then fired him, saying in a statement, “We are at the end of our agreement with Terry Moran and based on his recent post – which was a clear violation of ABC News policies – we have decided to not renew. At ABC News, we hold all of our reporters to the highest standards of objectivity, fairness and professionalism, and we remain committed to delivering straightforward, trusted journalism.”

Moran then did what every dismissed journalist seems to do: He took his talents to Substack.


** Most disturbing fact
------------------------------------------------------------

This year, Meta announced it would end its third-party fact-checking program for posts on its social media sites: Facebook, Instagram and Threads. Instead of relying on established fact-checking programs such as Poynter’s PolitiFact, Meta would leave it up to its users to figure out what was right, wrong or needed more context. Sites that at least once tried to let audiences know what was true and not true suddenly turned into a Wild West governed by the citizens.


** Interview of the year
------------------------------------------------------------

CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell, right, interviews President Donald Trump in November. (Courtesy: CBS News)

Up until this week’s Vanity Fair interview with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, I would have said Norah O’Donnell’s interview on CBS last month with President Donald Trump. I wrote at the time ([link removed]) , “Her interview style wasn’t disrespectful, but it was fair and, more importantly, direct and tough. Before it even started, the show acknowledged the lawsuit. And there was no chit-chat, how-ya-doing small-talk. O’Donnell got down to business and stayed that way throughout.”

And I stand by that.


** Biggest pipeline
------------------------------------------------------------

The pipeline between Fox News and the Trump White House remains strong.

The two biggest names to leap from Fox News to the Trump administration were “Judge” Jeanine Pirro and Pete Hegseth. Pirro left her comfy seat on the highly successful show “The Five” to become the United States attorney for the District of Columbia. Meanwhile, Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, is now the Secretary of Defense.

Hegseth is the perfect model for this Trump administration. He’s a TV star whom Trump used to watch regularly, and, as far as Trump is concerned, he just looks the part of a defense secretary. Because he is vastly underqualified, he merely talks and acts the way he thinks Trump wants him to, too.

That includes his ridiculous press policy, demanding that the media inside the Pentagon sign a new policy that prohibits journalists from accessing or soliciting information that the Defense Department doesn’t make available to them, including unclassified information.

And, oh, the pipeline goes the other way too. Fox News hired Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of the president, to host her own weekend show.


** Most boring dinner
------------------------------------------------------------

One of the highlights of the year in media is the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Typically, the night features a top speaker — Trevor Noah, Conan O’Brien, Seth Meyers, Jay Leno, Jon Stewart, etc. — roasting those on both sides of the aisle, including the president of the United States, who is almost always there. But this year, all that changed when the White House Correspondents’ Association wimped out by disinviting comedian Amber Ruffin because of comments she made criticizing the Republican Party and refusing the request from the WHCA to criticize both sides of the aisle during her appearance.

WHCA president Eugene Daniels tried to explain that he had been “re-envisioning” what the dinner would look like. But, perhaps, he could have done that before the WHCA invited Ruffin to perform. It sure seemed like removing Ruffin from the event was a way to placate the right and Trump, who didn’t bother to show up anyway.


** Honorable mentions
------------------------------------------------------------

While it’s impossible to name every journalist and outlet that did great work this year, a few names do need to be mentioned. This list is, by no means, comprehensive, but here goes:
* The New York Times. Still the gold standard of news outlets. And, somehow, its groundbreaking podcast “The Daily,” is still underrated.
* Speaking of the Times, its sports site, The Athletic, is finally making money and is the go-to site for sports fans.
* Charlamagne tha God. His iHeart “The Breakfast Club” podcast is a must-listen (and watch). And now a new deal between iHeart and Netflix means video podcast episodes launch on Netflix in early 2026 in the U.S.
* This is among the strongest White House press corps in some time, despite a hostile environment created by Trump and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Among the best of the best, along with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, is ABC News’ Rachel Scott, who covers both the White House and Capitol Hill.
* NewsNation still isn’t big enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Fox, CNN and MS NOW, but its prime-time programming tries and is often very watchable.
* “CBS News Sunday Morning” is still as good as any show on TV.
* ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. Love him or hate him, you have to admit: He’s never boring. And he’s becoming even more interesting as he ventures further and further into politics.
* Fox News’ “The Five.” At least one respected outlet finds the weekday show to be the most influential in media ([link removed]) .
* More favorite podcasts: “Pod Save America,” “On with Kara Swisher,” “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” “The Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch,” and Jeff Pearlman’s “Two Writers Slinging Yang.”
* I say this through gritted teeth, because I think she can sometimes be just awful, but Megyn Kelly has built a legitimate superstar podcasting network, MK Media. Incredibly, she’s even bigger now than she was when she was on either Fox News or NBC.
* The unlikely pair of Pat McAfee and Nick Saban has pumped new life into ESPN’s “College GameDay.” Speaking of which, in 2025, we said goodbye to longtime “GameDay” analyst Lee Corso, who retired after nearly 38 years on the pregame show.
* Welcome back to the “NBA on NBC” as the NBA returned to the network for the first time since 2002. Meanwhile, a sad goodbye to the NBA on TNT — which had been carrying NBA games since 1988.
* Best documentary: The great Ken Burns did it again, this time with “The American Revolution.”


** Burning questions for 2026
------------------------------------------------------------
* What’s going to happen with the sale of Warner Bros. Discovery? Will it go to Netflix or Paramount?
* What else will AI be used for in journalism and entertainment?
* Uh, are we ever going to get a resolution on TikTok?
* Can Tony Dokoupil make a difference taking over as anchor of the “CBS Evening News?”
* And, finally, I ask the same question I asked last year, with a slight modification. Instead of asking, “Will Donald Trump go after the press, seeking to force them to comply with his presidency or face harsh consequences?” I ask, “How much further will Donald Trump go after the press, seeking to force them to comply with his presidency or face harsh consequences?”


** More resources for journalists
------------------------------------------------------------
* Upcoming deadline: Join 650+ women leaders transformed by this leadership program since 2015. Apply by Dec. 15 ([link removed]) .
* Join 300 newsrooms receiving free digital preservation training. Apply by Jan. 9, 2026 ([link removed]) .
* Experienced leaders: Amplify your managerial strengths, navigate ethical decision-making and strategize ahead of difficult conversations. Space is limited. Apply by Jan. 23 ([link removed]) .
* Join a foundational career and leadership development 101 course — fully virtual for ambitious media professionals without direct reports. Apply now ([link removed]) .

Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

The Poynter Report is your daily dive into the world of media, packed with the latest news and insights. Get it delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday by signing up here ([link removed]) . And don’t forget to tune into our biweekly podcast ([link removed]) for even more.
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